Juliet has little choice but to respectfully agree to consider Paris as a husband. She adds that a suitable mate has already been found for Juliet: "The valiant Paris seeks you for his love" (1.3.54). Lady Capulet tells Juliet that it is time she start thinking of becoming a bride and a mother, for there are girls in Verona even younger than Juliet who have children of their own. Lady Capulet asks Juliet how she feels about marriage and Juliet politely and honestly responds, "It is an honour that I dream not of" (I.iii.46). She could have run and waddled all about įor even the day before, she broke her brow. Juliet's nurse is in the room and she begins to ramble, recounting Juliet as a young child: For then she could stand high-alone nay, by the Romeo agrees that going to the party is a splendid idea, for he longs to catch a glimpse of his darling Rosaline.īack at Capulet's house, Lady Capulet visits her daughter's chamber to tell her about Paris. Benvolio challenges Romeo to sneak into the party with hopes that Romeo will see many other women to distract his attention away from Rosaline. Romeo obligingly reads aloud the names on the invitation list, and to his delight, comes upon the name Rosaline. The servant meets Romeo and Benvolio on the road and he begs Romeo to help him, for he is illiterate and cannot complete the task given to him by his master. Capulet is preparing for a grand party at his house that evening, and he gives a servant a guest list and instructs him to go forth into the streets to invite them all. However, if Paris can woo her and win her heart, Capulet will grant him consent to wed Juliet. Capulet tells Paris that Juliet has "not seen the change of fourteen years" (1.2.10) and is probably too young to marry. Scene 2 opens with Paris, a noble young kinsmen of the Prince, asking Capulet for his daughter's hand in marriage. He insists that to forget Rosaline would be impossible, "Thou canst not teach me to forget" (1.1.229), as the scene comes to a close. Romeo insists that no woman could ever compare to Rosaline, for she is a ravishing beauty. Benvolio suggests to Romeo that he should forget Rosaline and look for romance elsewhere. After asking many questions Benvolio finally learns that Romeo is sad because he is in love with a woman, Rosaline, who has taken a vow of chastity and refuses to return his affection. Benvolio sees Romeo coming and requests that Montague and his Lady step aside so he can talk to Romeo alone and uncover the reason for his melancholy. All he knows is that Romeo has been seen walking the streets in the early mornings, "With tears augmenting the fresh morning's dew/Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs" (1.1.124-5). Benvolio asks Lord Montague if he knows what is troubling his son, but he has no answer. Their attention turns to their son Romeo, who has been depressed of late. The crowd disperses along with Lord Capulet and his family, leaving behind Montague, Lady Montague, and Benvolio. He declares that any further public disorder will result in the execution of the participants. His guards break up the fight and he chastises all those involved, exclaiming "You men, you beasts!" (1.1.74-5). Prince Escalus happens upon the scene and he is shocked and outraged at such behaviour from his subjects. Capulet and Montague arrive, and immediately join in the clash, while their wives look on in fear. The fiery citizens of Verona become involved and a vicious brawl ensues. Reluctantly, Benvolio draws his sword and they fight. But as he attempts to keep the peace, Tybalt, nephew to Lord Capulet, comes upon the scene and demands to duel with the passive young Benvolio. Benvolio, a close friend to Romeo and nephew of Lord Montague, arrives and tries to stop the fight: "Part fools!/Put up your swords you know not what you do" (1.1.56-7). On a street in Verona, two servants from the house of Capulet, Sampson and Gregory, deliberately initiate a fight with two servants from the Montague house, Abram and Balthasar.
The Chorus tells us that amidst this ancient grudge, a "pair of star-cross'd lovers" will take their lives and that their deaths will extinguish their parents' rage. The play begins in Verona, a city that has had its peace shattered by the feud between two prominent families, the house of Montague and the house of Capulet.
Romeo and Juliet: Plot Summary (Acts 1 and 2) Act 1, Prologue Romeo and Juliet: Plot Summary Acts 1 and 2
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